I can't wait for my next session with a little girl! I just ordered a bunch of Kaiya Eve Pettiskirts, and they arrived yesterday. These are going to be too darn cute. Hmmm...which little girls are due for their portraits?

We are getting some much needed rain here in the Nashville area today...it's been 27 days without significant rainfall. Some of the storms were bad enough that I had to unplug the computer equipment. But everything seems to have turned green overnight!

I did have to get out in the nasty weather today and deliver these portraits to a client. I photographed these twins right before Christmas. Mom wanted to get it done before their teeth fell out! So they ordered Christmas cards and some gift portraits for family before Christmas, and then ordered the bog wall portrait a few weeks ago. Such handsome guys! Watch out girls, these guys start kindergarten this fall!

This past Saturday, my very brave and very hyper husband went rock climbing with his friend, Jerrold. I am terrified of heights, and dreadfully out of shape, so I went shopping instead. But Kelly took along my trust little Canon Elph, and Jerrold was kind enough to take some shots as Kelly took the challenge and climbed to the top of that mountain!

Here is the view from the top, where they secured their lines.

Here's my daring husband, about half way up...

And he made it! He was filled with a sense of accomplishment, and a serious adrenaline rush, but said he felt every one of his 40 years!

Better him than me. Even when I was in great shape, I still didn't have enough upper body strength to pull myself up the side of a mountain!

OK, I know I am not the greatest photographer in the world. I have many photographers whose work I admire, and I strive to learn from. I respect them. I have never been jealous of another photographer's work. I only try to figure out how to achieve similar results in my own work.

So I get really ticked off when a newbie asks for advice, and then tells me I'm rude, disrespectful, and jealous when I give her the advice she asked for! If all you want is Attaboys, then don't ask for anything else. Don't ask for advice or constructive criticism. Because you know what? People might actually give it to you!

Or should I say Stroller Hell! I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to go to the zoo with my friend Sarah, two of her boys, and a friend of her 6 year old. Really, it was 80 degrees and everyone in 4 counties was on Spring Break. Had I lost my mind?

I arrived at the zoo at 10:20. Zoo Drive is about a mile, mile and a half long street from Nolensville Road leading to the zoo parking lot and entrance. This was one long snaking chain of mini vans moving at 15 miles per hour. The entire parking lot was full, as were two of the grass fields adjacent to the parking lot. Mini van after mini van unloading strollers and small children. Yes, I had lost my ever-lovin' mind.

Once Sarah and her brood had arrived, we waited in line to get in. This wait wasn't too bad, since Sarah has a family membership, and was her guest. Inside, the trails were so crowded with strollers--one of which was Sarah's--that we could barely move. Later, when we decided to eat lunch, we waited in line for food for at least half an hour. After we ate, and I drank a large bottle of water, I really had to pee. Big mistake. The line to the bathrooms was so long, three little kids peed in their pants while waiting in line near me. It took 30 minutes to get to the bathroom. Seriously, little kids don't have that much bladder control to wait in line for 30 minutes! What where they thinking building so few facilities at a Zoo, for crying out loud?

Anyway, it was so crowded that I couldn't get very many photos, but here are some that I did get.

Well, I have joined a few more photographers' forums. Over at ILP (I Love Photography), I have joined a group that reads each other's blogs. So that means I actually have to update mine more than 3 times a year! OF course, that means I have to find something to blog about...

OK, plans are moving forward on my new business venture. My friend and colleague, Rebekah and I are joining up to form a new company called Pope & Schwartz Photography. We specialize in contemporary school portraits for day cares, mother's day out programs, pre-schools, home school groups, and small private schools. Not your typical school photo, though! Here are a few examples...If you are interested in having us photograph your school group, you can contact us through www.barbieschwartz.com or rebekahpope.com.

I took this photograph while I was "going-walk-about" in San Francisco last December. The giant B+W portrait in the window caught my eye, but the people gazing up at it as they walked by was the story I was trying to catch. [P.S. This is one of those shots where it's best seen full-size].

This post is a little late as I was over on the Big Island for the last few days. While there I did a photo shoot with Alan, who is competing in a couple of bodybuilding events this summer. He is very dedicated to his sport so I'm sure he will do well! Anyhows, this is one of my favorite B+W images from that shoot.

This is a shot of one of my photo buddies who is a pro sports photographer. He let me borrow his fisheye which was LOTS of fun to play with. The location where this was taken is one of the 'secret spots' on Oahu; it is a great place to go whale watching and to see the sunset. No worries about my friend though - neither the "model" nor the camera were harmed during the taking of this photograph. ;o)